Christmas is a season of generosity, gifting and online shopping — but it’s also the peak season for scammers. With more purchases being made, more parcels being delivered, and more families spending time online, cybercriminals ramp up their activity to take advantage of busy, distracted consumers.
This year, online scams aren’t just smarter… they’re flying at us faster than Santa’s sleigh. Here’s how to spot them, avoid them and protect your family and finances during the holidays.
🚚 1. Fake Parcel & Delivery Scams (The #1 Christmas Trick)
Have you received a text or email claiming:
“Your parcel is on hold. Click here to arrange redelivery.”
These messages often increase in volume throughout December when families expect multiple package arrivals. Scammers mimic big brands like Australia Post, Toll, DHL and FedEx to steal personal information or credit card details.
Red flags:
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Urgent language
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Odd links or website addresses
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Requests for payment to release a parcel
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Spelling or formatting errors
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Messages sent late at night or at unusual times
Safety tip:
Always track parcels directly through the official website or app — never click a link from a message.
🛍️ 2. Fake Online Stores & Discount Traps
Counterfeit online shops pop up everywhere in December offering:
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Cheap toys
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Designer brand clothing
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Limited-time Christmas deals
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‘Sold out’ stock found elsewhere
These stores take payments but never deliver the goods.
What to check before buying:
✔ Legit ABN on website
✔ Reviews from trusted sources (not just on the shop page!)
✔ Secure payment portal (PayPal/Stripe/Official AfterPay)
✔ Contact details including physical address or customer support
💳 3. Gift Card & Payment Scams
It’s common for teens to receive gift cards and gamers to be offered digital currency with holiday deals. But scammers now:
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Sell fake gift card codes
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Use fake payment assistance chats
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Pose as family members asking for gift cards to be sent via message
Never send gift card numbers or photos of voucher codes via text or email.
🎁 4. “Free Gift!” Scams That Auto-Subscribe You
Pop-ups promising:
🎄 Free gifts
❄ Holiday rewards
🎁 Christmas promo boxes
These are often lures to sign users up to hidden subscriptions that charge monthly fees after a “free trial”.
Protection:
Disable one-click purchasing and review all subscription charges weekly through your bank or mobile app store.
🎄 5. Fake Charity & Donation Scams
Christmas brings a surge of giving, but also fake charity pages and social ads requesting donations for emotional causes like:
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Helping sick children
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Supporting animal rescues
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Disaster relief
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Christmas gift drives
Only donate via verified charity platforms or the official charity website.
👨👩👧👦 6. How to Protect Your Family This Christmas
Create a Christmas scam safety plan:
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Teach kids not to open links or submit forms without checking
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Use family devices first for online shopping or downloads
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Add parental controls before gifting devices
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Lock down payment permissions on kids’ tablets/phones
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Discuss online strangers reaching out over holidays
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Model safe posting and avoid oversharing holiday details in real time
🧠 7. A Simple Rule to Remember
If it creates urgency, asks for extra payment, looks too good to be true, or comes from an unexpected sender… STOP and verify.
Kids notice our behaviour, so when we slow down and double-check, we’re teaching them to do the same.
✅ Final Checklist: Your Scam Spotting Tool Kit
| Scam Type | What They Want | Best Defence |
|---|---|---|
| Fake Parcel | Personal & payment details | Track parcels directly |
| Fake Stores | Upfront payment | Research + use secure payment |
| Gift Cards | Code/voucher numbers | Never send code photos |
| Free Gifts | Subscription capture | Check bank/app store charges |
| Fake Charity | Emotional donations | Donate only to verified orgs |
Christmas should be filled with magic — not malware.
Take 5 extra seconds to check before you click, and keep your family safe online this holiday season.
